Difference

How to write Panic and Anxiety Attacks

TW: Mention of mental illness, anxiety and panic attacks.

I have had several anxiety and panic attacks. I know how terrible they are. Hopefully, this may be helpful

Difference

(Credit to the owner of the image)

One of the major differences between anxiety and panic attacks is that anxiety attacks are caused due to the disease called anxiety while panic attacks are sudden and may happen to a person who has never ever had anxiety.

Keywords: -Panic attacks: Sudden -Anxiety attacks: Prolonged and Gradual (easier to control)

Symptoms/Feeling

->Normal/Mild

Pain in chest

Breathing difficulty

Shaky Limbs

Mild Dizziness

Slight nausea

Need to go to the toilet

Hot flushes

->Severe

Severe nausea

Vomiting

Acidity

Fainting

Dark spots in vision

Extreme trembling

Suicidal Ideation

Dialogues you can use (mostly for panic)

"I can't breathe!"

"This is not normal! NOT NORMAL"

"I AM GOING TO DIE"

"I don't know what's happening!"

"My chest hurts"

"I feel like I am going to puke."

"I don't want to die."

"YOU ARE TELLING ME TO BREATHE? WOW! I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IF I WERE ABLE TO "

"Help me."

Response/Comfort

"You are doing amazing!"

"I am so proud of you!"

"Breathe for me, please"

"You are okay, you are safe"

"You can get through this."

"Concentrate on your breathing "

"I want you to look at me and forget everything else"

"Focus on my voice."

Remember that oftentimes a person having a panic attack does not like to be touched, so it's best to ask for consent first

"Can I hold your hand?"

"Is it okay if I envelop my arms around you?"

"Are you comfortable? "

"I am going to put my hand around your ears, is that okay?"

Control

The most common grounding technique for anxiety/panic attacks is the 54321 method. In this, you identify…

5 things you can see

4 things you can feel

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Hope this was helpful